Atinuke is a Nigerian-born author of children's books and an oral storyteller of traditional African folktales.
Personal life and education Atinuke was born in Ibadan and grew up in Lagos, Nigeria with her parents and three siblings. Her father was a Nigerian university lecturer and her mother was an English editor. Atinuke is of Yoruba ancestry through her father.
Atinuke chose to attend a boarding school in England from ages ten to thirteen. Her parents and three siblings then moved to England, and Atinuke began attending public school.
in university, Atinuke studied English and Commonwealth Literatures.
She has two sons and currently lives in Wales.
Career Atinuke's first story was told to an audience in England in 1990, when the booked performer didn't show. She embarked on a creative journey and professional career of collecting stories from Africa and the African diaspora and telling them to local and international audiences, at festivals and schools. When she took a break from travelling in 2005 due to illness, she began writing her first book, about fictional character Anna Hibiscus, a young girl living in "Amazing Africa". Atinuke is the author of over 20 children's books based on her life in Nigeria and the traditional stories. Most recently she published a non-fiction children's book about the 55 countries of Africa. Her book "Baby Goes To Market" is published in the US and UK as well as in French and Japanese.
Awards and honours The African American Literature Book Club named Atinuke in their list of the "Top 100 Bestselling Authors" in the 60th place.
In 2011, Good Luck, Anna Hibiscus! was named one of the best children's books of the year by The Horn Book Magazine.
In 2015, Double Trouble for Anna Hibiscus was named one of the best children's and young adult books of the year by Shelf Awareness.
In 2017, You’re Amazing, Anna Hibiscus! was included on Kirkus Reviews "Best Books for Middle Graders of 2017" list.
In 2018, Baby Goes to Market was included on the Children's Africana Book Awards' "Best Books for Young Children" list.
In 2021, Too Small Tola was named one of the best children's books of the year by The Horn Book Magazine, School Library Journal and Shelf Awareness
In 2022, Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls was named one of the best children's books of the year by The Horn Book Magazine. +Awards for Atinuke's writingYearTitleAwardResultRef.2010Anna HibiscusCybils Award for Short Chapter BooksFinalists2011Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for FictionHonorHave Fun, Anna Hibiscus!Cybils Award for Short Chapter BooksWinner2012Good Luck, Anna Hibiscus! Mind the Gap Awards: Better luck next timeWinner2013Carnegie MedalNominee2014Hooray for Anna Hibiscus!Audie Award for Children's Titles Ages Up to 8 Winner2018Baby Goes to MarketALSC Notable Children's BooksSelectionCharlotte Zolotow Award HonorMathical Book Prize: Pre-KWinner2020Africa, Amazing AfricaSchool Library Association Information Book Award for Ages 8 to 12 yearsShortlistB Is for BabyALSC Notable Children's BooksSelectionCarnegie MedalLonglist2021Too Small TolaCybils Award for Easy Chapter BooksFinalistJhalak Prize for Children YA Longlist2022ALSC Notable Children's BooksSelection
Publications
Fiction
Anna Hibiscus series The Anna Hibiscus series is illustrated by Lauren Tobia
Anna Hibiscus (2010) Hooray for Anna Hibiscus! (2010) Have Fun, Anna Hibiscus! (2011) Welcome Home, Anna Hibiscus! (2012) Go Well, Anna Hibiscus! (2014) Love from Anna Hibiscus! (2015) You're Amazing, Anna Hibiscus! (2016) Merry Christmas, Anna Hibiscus! (2023)
Anna Hibiscus picture books
Anna Hibiscus' Song (2012) Splash, Anna Hibiscus! (2014) Double Trouble For Anna Hibiscus! (2015)
Baby series The Baby series is illustrated by Angela Brooksbank. Baby Goes to Market, (2017) B Is for Baby (2019) Baby, Sleepy Baby (2021) M Is for Mango (2025)
The No. 1 Car Spotter series The No. 1 Car Spotter series is illustrated by Warwick Johnson-Cadwell. The No. 1 Car Spotter (2011) The No. 1 Car Spotter and the Firebird (2011) The No. 1 Car Spotter and the Car Thieves (2012) The No. 1 Car Spotter Goes to School (2014) The No. 1 Car Spotter and the Broken Road (2015) The No. 1 Car Spotter Fights the Factory (2016)
Too Small Tola series The Too Small Tola series is illustrated by Onyinye Iwu. Too Small Tola (2020) Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls (2021) Too Small Tola Gets Tough (2023)
Standalone books
Catch That Chicken!, illustrated by Angela Brooksbank (2020) Hugo, illustrated by Birgitta Sif (2020) Brilliant Black British History, illustrated by Kingsley Nebechi (2023) Beti and the Little Round House, illustrated by Emily Hughes, Walker Books (2024)
Non-Fiction Africa Amazing Africa: Country by Country, illustrated by Mouni Feddag (2019)
See also Marguerite Abouet
References
External links
Official website